“In the defilement and cleansing of the Temple we have a lesson for this time.  The same spirit that existed among the Jews, leading them to substitute gain for godliness, and outward pomp for inward purity, curses the Christian world today.  It spreads like a defiling leprosy among the professed worshipers of God.  Sacred things are brought down to a level with the vain matters of the world.  Vice is mistaken for virtue, and righteousness for crime.  Temporal business is mingled with the worship of God.  Extortion and wicked speculation are practiced by those who profess to be servants of the Most High.”  2SP:123.3.

 

“Some, fearing they will suffer loss of earthly treasure, neglect prayer and the assembling of themselves together for the worship of God, that they may have more time to devote to their farms or their business.  They show by their works which world they place the highest estimate upon.  They sacrifice religious privileges, which are essential to their spiritual advancement, for the things of this life, and fail to obtain a knowledge of the Divine Will.  They come short of perfecting Christian character, and do not meet the measurement of God.  They make their temporal, worldly interests first, and rob God of the time which they should devote to His service.  Such persons God marks, and they will receive a curse, rather than a blessing.”  2T:654; ChS:214.1.

 

“If your aptness and skill had been as much exercised in saving souls, and in disseminating the truth to those who are in darkness, as it has been to get gain and to increase your earthly possessions, you would have many stars in the crown of your rejoicing in the kingdom of glory.  There are but few who are as faithful in the service of God as they are in serving their own temporal interests.  A resolute purpose is sure to accomplish the desired end.  Many do not feel that it is essential to be as discriminating, apt, and accomplished in the work of God as in their own temporal business.  The mind and heart of those who profess to believe the truth should be elevated, refined, ennobled, and spiritualized.  The work of educating the mind for this great and important matter is fearfully neglected.  The work of God is done negligently, slothfully, and in a most bungling manner, because so often left to the caprice of feeling, rather than to sanctified principle and holy purpose.”  4T:358.1.

 

“If a man has tact, industry, and enthusiasm, he will make a success in temporal business, and the same qualities, consecrated to the work of God, will prove even doubly efficient; for Divine power will be combined with human effort.”  5T:276; ChS:231.1.

 

“. . .when the Spirit of God takes possession of the life.  Those whose hearts are filled with the love of Christ, will follow the example of Him who for our sake became poor, that through His poverty we might be made rich.  Money, time, influence -- all the gifts they have received from God’s hand, they will value only as a means of advancing the work of the Gospel.”  AA:71.1.

 

“Many spend money lavishly in self-gratification.  Men and women consult their pleasure and gratify their taste, while they bring to God, almost unwillingly, a stinted offering.  They forget that God will one day demand a strict account of how His goods have been used, and that He will no more accept the pittance they hand into the treasury than He accepted the offering of Ananias and Sapphira.”  AA:75.2.

 

“God calls for earnest, humble workers, who will carry the gospel to the higher class.  There are miracles to be wrought in genuine conversions, -- miracles that are not now discerned.  The greatest men of this earth are not beyond the power of a wonder-working God.  If those who are workers together with Him will be men of opportunity, doing their duty bravely and faithfully, God will convert men who occupy responsible positions, men of intellect and influence.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit many will accept the Divine principles.  Converted to the truth, they will become agencies in the hand of God to communicate the light.  They will have a special burden for other souls of this neglected class.  Time and money will be consecrated to the work of the Lord, and new efficiency and power will be added to the Church.”  AA:140.1.

 

“Religion and business are not two separate things; they are one.  Bible religion is to be interwoven with all we do or say.  Divine and human agencies are to combine in temporal as well as in spiritual achievements.”  AG:64.5.

 

“Belief in the near Coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven will not cause the true Christian to become neglectful and careless of the ordinary business of life.  The waiting ones who look for the soon appearing of Christ will not be idle, but diligent in business.  Their work will not be done carelessly and dishonestly, but with fidelity, promptness, and thoroughness.  Those who flatter themselves that careless inattention to the things of this life is an evidence of their spirituality and of their separation from the world are under a great deception.  Their veracity, faithfulness, and integrity are tested and proved in temporal things.  If they are faithful in that which is least they will be faithful in much [Luke 16:10].”  CCh:84.4.

 

“It is the grossest presumption for mortal man to venture upon a compromise with the Almighty in order to secure his own petty, temporal interests.  It is as ruthless a violation of the Law to occasionally use the Sabbath for secular business as to entirely reject it; for it is making the Lord’s Commandments a matter of convenience.”  CCh:269.2.

 

“Christianity and business, rightly understood, are not two separate things; they are one.  Bible religion is to be brought into all that we do and say.  Human and Divine agencies are to combine in temporal as well as spiritual achievements.  They are to be united in all human pursuits, in mechanical and agricultural labors, in mercantile and scientific enterprises.”  CT:277.2.

 

“Many lack wise management and economy.  They do not weigh matters well, and move cautiously.  Such should not trust to their own poor judgment, but counsel with their brethren who have experience.  Those who lack good judgment and economy are often unwilling to seek counsel.  They generally think that they understand how to conduct their temporal business, and are unwilling to follow advice.  They make bad moves and suffer in consequence.  Their brethren are grieved to see them suffer, and they help them out of difficulty.  Their unwise management affects the Church.  It takes means from the treasury of God which should have been used to advance the cause of present truth.  If these poor brethren would take a humble course and be willing to be advised and counseled by their brethren, and then are brought into straightened places, their brethren should feel it their duty to cheerfully help them out of difficulty.  But if they choose their own course and rely upon their judgment, they should be left to feel the full consequences of their unwise course, and learn by dear experience that ‘in a multitude of counselors there is safety.’ [Pro. 11:14] God’s people should be subject one to another.  They should counsel with each other, that the lack of one be supplied by the sufficiency of the other.  I saw that the stewards of the Lord have no duty to help those persons who persist in using tobacco, tea, and coffee.”  RH April 18, 1871; 4bSG:55.4; WM:201.2.